Combination Infant Shade and Nursing Blanket

ABSTRACT

A cover for a child restraining device, such as a stroller or car seat, that is also configured for use as a nursing coverup. The cover includes a top and at least two sides extending downwardly from the top. The top and sides may include netting or mesh to provide ventilation and the top preferably further includes a flap that may be opened or closed. Snaps are positioned at appropriate location to allow the cover to be securely affixed to a stroller, car seat, or around the neck of a nursing mother. When positioned over a stroller or car seat the cover shields a child from the elements and encourages sleep. When used as a nursing coverup, the cover allows the mother to see the child while maintaining privacy. The cover may also include a pouch that allows the cover to be folded therein and used as a pillow.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 61/025,402, filed Feb. 1, 2008.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to apparel and seats and, moreparticularly, a cover that may be used as both a detachable cover for achild restraint and as a nursing coverup.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventional covers for strollers and/or car seats only protect a childfrom the environment and do not promote a sleep environment. Forexample, parents typically use standard blankets to cover up the carseats, which have a tendency to fall off of the stroller or car seat,thereby uncovering the child and interfering with sleep. These systemsalso lack proper ventilation, and may easily overheat or even smother achild. In addition, blankets do not have any other uses and areineffective as nursing aprons as they will also slip away or even aspillows as they rarely stay folded or rolled under a wriggling infant.

Fitted stroller and car seat covers are less likely to fall off of thechild, but are limited in their use strictly as covers as they areincapable of being extended into a configuration for use as a blanket,pillow or even a nursing blanket. There exist many types of nursingcoverings, such as blankets and nursing garments, for nursing women.These devices often will not enable the mother to view the breastfeeding infant and are useless for any other purposes. Conventionalblankets or aprons also typically lack a way of securing the blanket orapron to the mother, thus risking the possibility of slipping off andexposing the mother and child.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a principal object and advantage of the presentinvention to provide a multiple use cover that may be used as both asleep aid and nursing blanket or coverup.

In accordance with the foregoing objects and advantages, the presentinvention provides a cover that fits over a child restraining device,such as a stroller or car seat, to shield a child from the elements andencourage sleep. Cover includes comprises a top and a plurality of sidesextending downwardly from the top. The top and sides may include nettingor mesh to provide ventilation and the top preferably further includes aflap that may be opened or closed. The cover may be affixed in a firstconfiguration in covering relation to the child restraint device by aseries of snap, and affixed in a second configuration around the neck ofa nursing mother using at least some of the same snaps. The meshportions of top and sides are preferably positioned to allow airmovement and viewing of the child regardless of whether the cover isaffixed in the first or second configurations. The cover may alsoinclude a pouch that allows the cover to be folded therein and used as apillow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated byreading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cover according to the presentinvention affixed in a first configuration over one type of childrestraint device.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cover according to the presentinvention affixed in a first configuration over another type of childrestraint device.

FIG. 3 is a top plan of a cover according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top plan of a pouch for the cover according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is perspective view of a cover according to the present inventionaffixed in a second configuration around the neck of a nursing mother.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer tolike parts throughout, there is seen in FIGS. 1 through 3 a cover 10that fits over a child restraining device, such as a stroller 12 and/orcar seat 14, to shield a child positioned within the stroller 12 fromthe elements and encouraging sleep. Cover 10 wraps around the top of astroller 12 or car seat 14 to provide shade while allowing forventilation. Cover 10 is preferably manufactured from a machinewashable, double layer woven fabric sufficient for use as a blanket,such as cotton or polyester. An optimum size for cover 10 in an unfoldedposition is forty-five by forty-one inches.

Cover 10 generally comprises a top 16 and a plurality of sides 18extending downwardly from top 16 to define a cavity 20 therein forenclosing the child. Top 16 and/or sides 18 may include at least aportion 28 thereof formed from netting or mesh to provide ventilationfor a child positioned under cover 10. Top 16 preferably furthercomprises a flap 22 that may be opened or closed and positioned suchthat a parent may easily view a child inside cavity 20.

Cover 10 may be retained over stroller 12 or car seat 14 by a series ofsnaps 24 positioned along sides 18. Preferably, when cover 10 isunsnapped and removed from stroller 12 or car seat 14 it is capable ofbeing opened into a substantially planar configuration for use as ablanket. In particular, cover 10 may be used as a nursing blanket tocover a child during the nursing process. Snaps 24 may be used toenclose cover 10 more closely around mother and child to provide privacyduring the nursing process. For example, the placement of snaps 24 inthe appropriate locations will allow cover 10 to be releasably affixedaround the neck of a nursing mother to hold cover 10 in place. Those ofskill in the art with recognize that the means for affixing cover 10 toa stroller 12 or car seat 14 may optionally comprise Velcro-style hookand loop strips, buckles, buttons and the like.

As seen FIG. 4, cover 10 may include a pocket 26 formed into an interiorportion thereof so that cover 10 may be folded into pouch 26 for storageor use as a pillow. A user simple folds sides 18 inwardly until alignedwith pocket 26, folds cover 10 into pouch 26, and then turns cover 10inside out to form a pillow. As seen in FIG. 5, cover 10 may be turnedon its side such that flap 22 is in the front, and then snapped aroundthe neck of the user to be used as a nursing blanket. Flap 22 thenallows for eye contact with a child positioned under cover 10.

1. A multiple use child cover, comprising: a central portion including aflap formed therein for movement between an open and a closed position;a plurality of side portions extending from said central portion,wherein at least two of said side portions include ventilation elements;and means for affixing said cover in a first configuration in coveringrelation to a child restraining device so that said flap is poisonedover said child, and in a second configuration in covering relation to anursing child so that said flap is positioned over said child.
 2. Thecover of claim 1, further including a pouch into which said centralportion and said plurality of sides may be folded to form a pillow. 3.The cover of claim 2, wherein said ventilation elements are positionedon opposite sides of said child restraining device when said cover inaffixed in said first configuration.
 4. The cover of claim 3, whereinsaid means for affixing comprise snaps.
 5. The cover of claim 3, whereinsaid means for affixing comprise hook and loop strips.
 6. The cover ofclaim 3, wherein said central portion, plurality of sides, and flap areintegrally formed.
 7. The cover of claim 6, wherein said cover is formedfrom double layer fabric.